KR102560101B1 - Display device and controlling method for curvature of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling curvature of a display device including a flexible display panel, a curvature changing member, a control unit, and a light sensor includes measuring the amount of light incident on the flexible display panel using the light sensor, determining a position of the flexible display panel having the amount of light equal to or greater than the reference value when the measured amount of light is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference value, and using the curvature changing member as a reference for the amount of light. and changing a curvature of the periphery of the portion of the flexible display panel that is greater than or equal to a curvature of the flexible display panel.

Description

Display device and curvature control method thereof {DISPLAY DEVICE AND CONTROLLING METHOD FOR CURVATURE OF THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a display device and a curvature control method thereof.

The display device is a device that displays an image, and includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode display (OLED display), an electrophoretic display, and the like.

Among such display devices, a flexible display device that can be easily reduced in thickness and can add flexibility has recently been attracting attention.

Such a flexible display device may be bent concavely or convexly according to a user's request. In addition, the flexible display device may be rolled to facilitate portability and storage.

When bending the flexible display device, the curvature of the flexible display device may be controlled and bent according to a purpose corresponding to a user's request.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling the curvature of a display device using a curvature changing member.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a curvature control method of a display device including a flexible display panel, a curvature changing member, a control unit, and a light sensor includes measuring an amount of light incident on the flexible display panel using the light sensor, checking a position of a portion of the flexible display panel where the amount of light is equal to or greater than the reference value when the measured amount of light is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference value, and determining the amount of light using the curvature changing member. and changing a curvature around the portion of the flexible display panel that is greater than or equal to a reference value.

The step of checking the position of the part where the amount of light is equal to or greater than a reference value may include capturing a screen displayed on the flexible display panel using a camera included in the display device to find the brightest part.

The curvature changing member is positioned below the flexible display panel, and contraction and extension of the curvature changing member may be controlled by the controller.

The curvature changing members may be in plural, and the controller may control contraction and extension of each of the plurality of curvature changing members.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling the curvature of a display device includes a flexible display panel, a curvature changing member, a control unit, and an acceleration sensor, comprising: measuring the acceleration of the display device using the acceleration sensor; measuring the acceleration direction of the display device when the measured acceleration of the display device is greater than 0.9G and less than 1.1G; and changing the curvature of the flexible display panel using

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a curvature control method of a display device including a flexible display panel, a curvature changing member, and a control unit includes determining whether a battery of the display device is being charged, checking a charged amount if the battery of the display device is being charged, and changing the curvature of the flexible display panel to a curvature corresponding to the charged amount by using the curvature changing member.

A display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a flexible display panel, a curvature changing member layer positioned under the flexible display panel, and a control unit and a sensor unit positioned under the curvature changing member layer, wherein the control unit controls contraction or extension of the curvature changing member by applying a voltage to the curvature changing member.

The curvature changing member layer may include a plurality of curvature changing members.

The plurality of curvature changing members may be ionic electroactive polymers or artificial muscles including electroactive polymers.

The plurality of curvature changing members may be arranged in a matrix form.

The sensor unit may include a light sensor and an acceleration sensor.

The curvature of the display device may be controlled by the method for controlling the curvature of the display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a cross section taken along line II-II of FIG. 1 in a state in which the display device of FIG. 1 is coupled.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an arrangement of curvature changing members of the display device according to FIG. 1 .
4 to 6 are diagrams showing the degree of contraction or elongation of the curvature changing member.
7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an arrangement of curvature changing members according to another embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a flowchart briefly illustrating a curvature control method of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a step of confirming a position of a portion having an amount of incident light greater than or equal to a reference value in the curvature control method of the display device of FIG. 8 .
FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating a bent shape of the display device by controlling the curvature of the display device using the method of controlling the curvature of the display device of FIG. 8 .
11 is a flowchart briefly illustrating a curvature control method of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a flowchart briefly illustrating a curvature control method of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a flowchart briefly illustrating a curvature control method of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
14 and 15 are diagrams schematically illustrating a bent shape of the display device by controlling the curvature of the display device using the curvature control method of FIG. 13 .

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. This invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

In order to clearly describe the present invention, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

In addition, since the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for convenience of explanation, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the shown bar.

In the drawings, the thickness is shown enlarged to clearly express the various layers and regions. And in the drawings, for convenience of explanation, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated. When a part such as a layer, film, region, plate, etc. is said to be "on" or "on" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly on" the other part, but also the case where there is another part in between.

In addition, throughout the specification, when a certain component is said to "include", it means that it may further include other components without excluding other components unless otherwise stated. In addition, throughout the specification, "on" means to be located above or below the target part, and does not necessarily mean to be located on the upper side relative to the direction of gravity.

In addition, throughout the specification, when it is referred to as "planar image", it means when the target part is viewed from above, and when it is referred to as "cross-sectional image", it means when a cross section of the target part cut vertically is viewed from the side.

Then, a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 .

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a cross section cut along the cutting line II-II of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an arrangement of curvature changing members of the display device according to FIG. 1 .

1 to 3 , the display device 1000 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a flexible display panel 100, a curvature changing member layer 200, a support 300, a controller 400, and a sensor unit 500.

The flexible display panel 100 displays images implemented by the display device 1000 and includes a pair of long sides 101 and a pair of short sides 102 . For example, when the display device 1000 is a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, an image such as a UI (User Interface) or GUI (Graphic User Interface) related to a call may be displayed.

The flexible display panel 100 includes a flexible substrate made of a plastic material having excellent heat resistance and durability, such as polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), polyarylate (PAR), polyether imide (PEI), polyether sulfone (PES), and polyimide (PI). In addition, without being limited thereto, the flexible display panel 100 may include a flexible substrate made of various flexible materials.

Meanwhile, the flexible display panel 100 may include a flexible substrate on which a plurality of thin film transistors, a gate line, a data line, and a pixel electrode are disposed, a flexible substrate on which a color filter and a common electrode are disposed, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two substrates.

Also, as another example, the flexible display panel 100 may include a plurality of thin film transistors, gate lines, data lines, and organic light emitting diodes disposed on a flexible substrate.

A touch sensor or touch panel in the form of a touch film, a touch sheet, or a touch pad and detecting a touch operation may be positioned above the flexible display panel 100 . Here, when the touch panel is located, the touch panel may also include a flexible substrate.

The curvature changing member layer 200 is positioned below the flexible display panel 100 and changes the curvature of the flexible display panel 100 .

The curvature changing member layer 200 includes a plurality of curvature changing members 210 . The plurality of curvature changing members 210 are arranged in a matrix form along a first direction A, which is parallel to the direction in which the long side 101 of the flexible display panel 100 extends, and a second direction B, which is parallel to the direction in which the short side 102 of the flexible display panel 100 extends.

The curvature changing member 210 may be an artificial muscle such as an ionic electroactive polymer or an electroactive polymer that can be contracted or stretched by applying a voltage. In addition, it is not limited thereto, and the curvature changing member 210 may be a thermally deformable member, a motor, or a memory shape alloy that can be deformed by heat.

The support 300 is located under the curvature changing member layer 200 and serves to support the curvature changing member layer 200 .

The control unit 400 and the sensor unit 500 are located under the support 300 .

The controller 400 controls the curvature changing member layer 200 . The controller 400 may contract and extend the curvature changing member 210 by applying a voltage to the curvature changing member 210 . Here, the contraction and extension of the curvature changing member 210 is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the flexible display panel 100 (refer to the arrow direction in FIG. 2 ). The curvature of the flexible display panel 100 may be changed by applying force to the flexible display panel 100 by contraction and extension of the curvature changing member 210 .

The controller 400 may control contraction and extension of each curvature changing member 210 . That is, the controller 400 can change the curvature of the flexible display panel 100 in various ways by controlling the contraction and extension of each of the plurality of curvature changing members 210 . In addition, the controller 400 may contract or extend some of the curvature changing members 210 positioned along the first direction A or the second direction B among the plurality of curvature changing members 210 to bend the flexible display panel 100 based on an axis parallel to the first direction A or the second direction B.

The sensor unit 500 includes a light sensor and an acceleration sensor.

The light sensor detects the amount of light incident on the flexible display panel 100 . When the amount of light incident on the flexible display panel 100 is detected to be greater than or equal to the reference value, the position of the portion where the amount of incident light is greater than or equal to the reference value is detected, and the curvature changing member 210 positioned around the portion of the flexible display panel 100 in which the amount of incident light is greater than or equal to the reference value is contracted or extended. Accordingly, in the flexible display panel 100, the portion where the amount of incident light is greater than the reference value is bent, and the amount of light incident due to the bent part is reduced or the incident angle of the incident light is changed, thereby preventing consumers from being dazzled by the incident light.

The acceleration sensor measures acceleration of the display device 1000 . When the display device 1000 falls freely, the acceleration of the display device 1000 is measured. When the acceleration of the display device 1000 is close to the gravitational acceleration, the curvature changing member 210 is contracted or extended to bend the entire flexible display panel 100 to relieve the impact.

As such, the curvature of the flexible display panel 100 can be changed in various ways by disposing the curvature changing member layer 200 under the flexible display panel 100 and contracting or extending the curvature changing member 210 included in the curvature changing member layer 200.

Then, a change in curvature of the flexible display panel according to contraction or extension of the curvature changing member will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 .

* Figures 4 to 6 are views showing the degree of contraction or elongation of the curvature changing member.

As shown in FIG. 4 , when the curvature changing member 210 disposed on the short side 102 side of the flexible display panel 100 is stretched and the contraction strength of the curvature changing member 210 is increased toward the central portion of the flexible display panel 100, the flexible display panel 100 may be bent based on an axis parallel to the second direction B.

As shown in FIG. 5 , when the contraction strength of the curvature changing member 210 is increased from the long side 101 of the flexible display panel 100 toward the central portion of the flexible display panel 100, the flexible display panel 100 may be bent based on an axis parallel to the first direction A.

As shown in FIG. 6 , when the tensile strength of the curvature changing member 210 is increased from the central portion of the flexible display panel 100 toward the outside in a concentric direction, the central portion of the flexible display panel 100 may be bent in a concave shape.

Meanwhile, the curvature changing member 210 may be arranged in various forms rather than in a matrix form.

Referring to FIG. 7 , curvature changing members arranged in a different form than the matrix form will be described.

7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an arrangement of curvature changing members according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the curvature changing member layer 200 includes a plurality of longitudinal curvature changing members 220 and a plurality of horizontal curvature changing members 230 .

The plurality of vertical curvature changing members 220 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval and extend in parallel with the direction in which the long side 102 of the flexible display panel 100 extends. The plurality of horizontal curvature changing members 230 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval and extend parallel to the direction in which the short side 101 of the flexible display panel 100 extends. The longitudinal curvature changing member 220 and the transverse curvature changing member 230 may be located on different floors. In this embodiment, the horizontal curvature changing member 230 is located below the vertical curvature changing member 220 . However, it is not limited thereto, and the longitudinal curvature changing member 220 may be located below the horizontal curvature changing member 230 . Also, the horizontal curvature changing member 230 and the vertical curvature changing member 220 may be located on the same layer.

Then, a curvature control method of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 .

8 is a flowchart briefly illustrating a curvature control method of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In detail, it is a flowchart briefly illustrating a curvature control method of a display device capable of preventing consumers from being dazzled. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a step of confirming a position of a portion having an amount of incident light greater than or equal to a reference value in the curvature control method of the display device of FIG. 8 . FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating a bent shape of the display device by controlling the curvature of the display device using the method of controlling the curvature of the display device of FIG. 8 .

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10 , first, it is checked whether the curvature automatic change option of the display device 1000 is turned on (S110).

Next, when the option for automatically changing the curvature is turned on, the amount of light incident on the flexible display panel 100 is measured using the light sensor (S120).

Subsequently, it is determined whether the measured amount of light is greater than or equal to a reference value (S130).

Subsequently, if the measured amount of light is greater than or equal to the reference value, the position (L) of a portion having an amount of incident light greater than or equal to the reference value is checked (S140).

The position of the part where the amount of incident light is equal to or greater than the reference value is checked through a camera (not shown) included in the display device 1000 . For example, as shown in FIG. 9 , the flexible display panel 100 is divided into 9 parts, and a screen displayed on the flexible display panel 100 is captured to find the brightest part (L). Subsequently, when the position of the portion L having an amount of incident light greater than or equal to the reference value is confirmed, the curvature changing member 210 located around the portion L having an amount of incident light greater than or equal to the reference value is operated (S150). As shown in FIG. 10 , the brightest part L contracts or expands the curvature changing members 210 located on the left, right and upper sides, so that the brightest part L bends the left, right and upper flexible display panel 100.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a consumer from being dazzled by the incident light due to a decrease in the amount of light incident by the bent portion or a change in the incident angle of the incident light.

Referring to FIG. 11 , a curvature control method of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

11 is a flowchart briefly illustrating a curvature control method of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In detail, this is a flowchart briefly illustrating a method of controlling the curvature of the display device to prevent impact when the display device is free-falling.

Referring to FIG. 11 , first, it is checked whether an option for automatically changing the curvature of the display device 1000 is turned on (S210).

Then, if the option for automatically changing the curvature is turned on, the acceleration of the display device is measured using an acceleration sensor (S220).

Subsequently, it is determined whether the measured acceleration is greater than 0.9G and less than 1.1G (S230). Here, G represents the gravitational acceleration.

Next, when the measured acceleration is greater than 0.9G and less than 1.1G, the acceleration direction of the display device is measured (S240).

Subsequently, it is determined whether the acceleration direction is constant (S250). At this time, it is determined whether the acceleration direction is constant for a predetermined time.

Subsequently, if the acceleration direction is constant, the curvature changing member 210 is operated (S260). At this time, the curvature changing member 210 contracts or expands to bend the flexible display panel 100 .

If the measured acceleration is greater than 0.9G and less than 1.1G, the value is similar to the gravitational acceleration, and if the acceleration direction is constant for a predetermined time, the display device 1000 can be regarded as free fall. Accordingly, when the display device 1000 falls freely, the entire flexible display panel 100 may be bent by contracting or extending the curvature changing member 210 to mitigate the impact.

Referring to FIG. 12 , a curvature control method of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

12 is a flowchart briefly illustrating a curvature control method of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In detail, it is a flowchart briefly illustrating a method of controlling the curvature of the display device according to the amount of charge of the battery of the display device.

Referring to FIG. 12 , first, it is checked whether an option for automatically changing the curvature of the display device 1000 is turned on (S310).

Next, if the option for automatically changing the curvature is turned on, it is determined whether the battery of the display device 1000 is being charged (S320).

Subsequently, if the battery is being charged, the charged amount is checked (S330).

Subsequently, the curvature changing member 210 is operated with a radius of curvature corresponding to the charged amount of the battery (S340). The radius of curvature corresponding to the charged amount of the battery is, for example, a radius of curvature of 500 cm if the charged amount of the battery is 50%, a radius of curvature of 600 cm if the charged amount of the battery is 60%, and flat if it is 100%. That is, when the charged amount of the battery is 50%, the radius of curvature of the display device 1000 becomes 500 cm by contracting or extending the curvature changing member 210 . In addition, when the charged amount of the battery is 60%, the curvature changing member 210 is contracted or expanded so that the curvature radius of the display device 1000 becomes 600 cm. In addition, when the charged amount of the battery is 100%, the curvature changing member 210 is not operated.

Accordingly, the state of charge of the battery may be checked by changing the curvature of the display device 1000 .

A curvature control method of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 13 .

13 is a flowchart briefly illustrating a curvature control method of a display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In detail, it is a flowchart briefly illustrating a method of controlling the curvature of the display device according to the amount of charge of the battery of the display device. 14 and 15 are diagrams schematically illustrating a bent shape of the display device by controlling the curvature of the display device using the curvature control method of FIG. 13 .

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15 , first, it is checked whether an option for automatically changing the curvature of the display device 1000 is turned on (S410).

Subsequently, if the option for automatically changing the curvature is turned on, the direction of the display device 1000 is checked (S420). At this time, it is checked whether the screen displayed by the display device 1000 is parallel to the first direction A, which is the direction in which the long side of the flexible display panel 100 extends, or the second direction B, which is the direction in which the short side of the flexible display panel 100 extends. Here, when the screen displayed by the display device 1000 is parallel to the first direction A, the direction of the display device 1000 is referred to as the first direction A, and when the screen displayed by the display device 1000 is parallel to the second direction B, the direction of the display device 1000 is referred to as the second direction B.

Subsequently, it is determined whether the direction of the display device 1000 is the first direction A (S430).

Next, when the direction of the display device 1000 is in the first direction (A), the curvature changing member 210 positioned at the center in the second direction (B) is contracted, and the curvature changing member 210 at the edge portion in the second direction (B) is extended, and as shown in FIG. 14 , the flexible display panel 100 is bent based on an axis parallel to the second direction (B) (S440).

Next, it is checked whether the direction of the display device is changed (S450).

Meanwhile, when the direction of the display device 1000 is not in the first direction A but in the second direction B, the curvature changing member 210 positioned at the center of the first direction A is contracted and the curvature changing member 210 at the edge portion in the first direction A is extended, and as shown in FIG. 15 , the flexible display panel 100 is bent based on an axis parallel to the first direction A (S460).

Next, it is checked whether the direction of the display device is changed (S470).

Meanwhile, in step S450, if the direction of the display device is changed, that is, if the direction of the display device is changed from the first direction (A) to the second direction (B), step S460 is performed.

Meanwhile, in step S470, if the direction of the display device is changed, that is, if the direction of the display device is changed from the second direction (B) to the first direction (A), step S440 is performed.

Accordingly, since the flexible display panel 100 can be bent according to the direction of the display device 1000, a consumer's sense of immersion in the screen can be improved.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements of those skilled in the art using the basic concepts of the present invention defined in the following claims are also within the scope of the present invention.

100: flexible display panel 200: curvature change member layer
210: curvature changing member 220: longitudinal curvature changing member
230: horizontal curvature change member 300: support
400: control unit 500: sensor unit

Claims (4)

A curvature control method of a display device including a flexible display panel, a curvature changing member, a controller and a light sensor,
measuring an amount of light incident on the flexible display panel using the light sensor;
When the measured amount of light is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value, identifying a position of a portion of the flexible display panel having the amount of light greater than or equal to the reference value; and
and changing a curvature around a portion of the flexible display panel where the amount of light is equal to or greater than a reference value by using the curvature changing member. In paragraph 1,
In the step of confirming the position of the part where the amount of light is greater than the reference value,
and capturing a screen displayed on the flexible display panel using a camera included in the display device to find a brightest portion. In paragraph 2,
The curvature changing member is positioned below the flexible display panel;
A curvature control method of a display device in which the control unit controls contraction and extension of the curvature changing member. In paragraph 3,
The curvature changing member is plural,
The control unit controls the contraction and extension of each of the plurality of curvature changing members.